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How to Find and Work With an Investment Professional

Are you approaching retirement, or recently retired? Have you experienced a major event in your life that has changed your financial situation? Are you just beginning to invest?

These and other situations might have made you think about contacting an investment professional. Maybe one has recently contacted you. If so, this resource from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is for you. FINRA oversees the professionals and firms that sell stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other securities products. As regulators, we can’t recommend any particular firm, individual or type of investment professional. Our goal is to equip—and empower—you to weigh your options and provide tips for smart choices.

Here are six steps to help you find, and successfully work with, an investment professional.

Step 1. Shop smart for investment professionals.

A good place to start when shopping for an investment professional is to ask friends, family and colleagues who already invest for the names of people they’ve used. And beyond gathering names, ask direct questions, such as how long they’ve done business with the investment professional, the types of services that were provided, how much they’ve relied on the professional’s advice and what drove them to choose that particular person or firm. Also ask if they’ve ever had any problem with that person and, if so, how well and quickly it was resolved.

But don’t stop there—and don’t say “yes” to the first investment professional you speak to (or who speaks to you). Identify and interview a selection of candidates.

Even if you get a good recommendation, you should always do your own independent review of the investment professional to make sure he or she is the right person to meet your needs. We all have different financial goals—and everyone’s financial goals can change over time. Do an internet search of the investment professional and his or her firm, as well as any investments that might have been recommended. Do this before you sign any documents, make any investments or turn over any funds.

Step 2. Work with registered firms and individuals.

A vital step in selecting an investment professional is to check to see if the person and his or her firm are registered.

There are many types of investment professionals. But when it comes to buying and selling stocks, bonds and other securities products, only individuals and firms registered with FINRA (for securities brokers), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) (for certain investment advisers), and in those states where required by law, can do so.

Check out each person on FINRA BrokerCheck. It’s a free online tool that helps investors research the backgrounds of brokers and brokerage firms. BrokerCheck also searches the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website, which contains information about investment adviser representatives and investment adviser firms.

BrokerCheck can tell you if an individual or firm is registered. It provides an overview of an individual’s work history, as well as the firm’s history. BrokerCheck also provides other important information such as regulatory actions, criminal convictions and customer complaints involving the investment professional.

It’s a good idea to also consult your state securities regulator, especially if an individual or firm is not found in BrokerCheck. You’ll find a list of state regulators our website.

Step 3. Ask key questions.

Before you hire an investment professional to manage your portfolio, or purchase any securities or services, ask the following questions:

What experience do you have working with people like me?

What professional licenses do you currently hold?

Are you registered with FINRA, the SEC or a state securities regulator? If so, for how long and in what capacity?

Do you have any disciplinary actions, arbitration awards or customer complaints? If so, please explain them. Compare responses to information found in BrokerCheck and other third-party sources.

Do you or your firm have an overarching investment philosophy? What type of investment products and services do you offer? Are there any products or services you don’t offer? Why?

Do you or your firm impose any minimum account balances on customers? If so, what are they? What happens if my portfolio falls below the minimum?

How do you get paid? Do you receive commissions on products I buy or sell? A percentage of the amount of my assets you manage? A flat fee? Any other method?

What other fees and expenses do you charge?

Can you provide me with any customer references?

Are there conflicts of interest that we have not discussed? What are they and how do you resolve them?

One Product, Many Questions

One type of investment—the variable
annuity—generates considerable questions
and concerns, which often arise after
the product has been purchased. In part,
this is because variable annuities tend
to be complicated. The typical variable
annuity investor often doesn’t understand
the product or its risks. For instance,
many investors are surprised that it can
be difficult and costly to access the
money they have invested. You often have
to pay what are called “surrender charges”
to withdraw your money early. Learn more
about various types of annuities.

Step 4. Comparison shop for financial products.

When it comes to shopping for, and buying, financial products, your investment professional and his or her firm are not the only place to look. It’s possible to buy securities products, such as mutual funds, college savings plans and other investments, directly from a fund provider, state or other entity, sometimes at a lower cost than through a broker or investment adviser.

It is a sound investment principal to diversify within and among different asset classes (owning a variety of stocks and bonds, for instance). Investors can also choose to diversify assets among different types of accounts (such as bank accounts, brokerage accounts, mutual fund accounts and college savings accounts).

Step 5: Do your homework.

Spend time learning about the basic principles of investing and investment products before you engage an investment professional or purchase a securities product.

It’s important to know that all investments carry some degree of risk, and that different investment products carry different types of risk. For instance, bonds carry interest rate risk: if interest rates rise, bond prices are likely to fall. Stocks are subject to market fluctuation, the risk that prices will move up and down, sometimes significantly and quickly. Because risks tend to vary across different types of investments, it is a sound strategy to diversify across a number of investments categories.

FINRA’s website is a good place to start your education. It has information about preparing to invest, key investment principles, investment products and professionals, and other aspects of investing.

Be Careful Who You Trust

You may be tempted to invest your
money in a particular investment if
you hear that your friends, family
or someone from a group with which
you are affiliated are also investing.
Psychologists call this “social
consensus.” Our brains tell us
that when people around us are all
doing something, it must be okay.

Criminals who commit “affinity fraud”
exploit social consensus by targeting
groups that look or act like them. So
be careful who you trust, including
someone who may (or may claim to) share
your beliefs, heritage or interests.
Don’t allow this shared background to
give you a false sense of trust.

Step 6: Know the warning signs of fraud.

Financial fraudsters set their sights on people who have money. Often, you can avoid fraud by asking questions and researching any investment professionals you are considering.

Also, an investment professional should never ask to borrow money from you or encourage you to name them as a beneficiary or executor of your estate.

Opening an Account: Important Considerations

You have worked through the six steps to finding and working with an investment professional, but your job isn’t over yet.

As you move to the account agreement phase with your investment professional and his or her firm, here are some aspects to consider.

Account type. There are different types of accounts you can choose when working with an investment professional. Decide which type of account you’re most comfortable with before signing any documents.

Discretionary accounts give levels of trade authority to the investment professional. For example, full discretion gives an investment professional the ability to trade securities and initiate money movements, while limited discretion might only entail buying and selling securities. These types of accounts are also known as managed accounts.

A non-discretionary account is one in which your investment professional discusses each investment with you and gets your permission before buying and selling securities for your account. While the investment professional may make recommendations to you, you will have the final say on investment decisions related to your account.

With a margin account, you can borrow money from your brokerage firm to purchase securities. The loan from the firm is secured by the securities you purchase.Read a firm’s margin agreement and margin disclosure statement. Ask whether you will automatically be placed into a margin account. If so, what rate of interest will be charged, and what circumstances would trigger a margin call.

Speak with your investment professional or check your firm’s website for any changes in margin policies. Firms can make changes at their discretion, and are more likely to do so in volatile markets.

Rollovers. When you’re starting a new job or getting ready to retire, you may have to make a decision about your 401(k) or other employersponsored retirement account if you have one. You often can leave the money where it is. Or you can move some or all of your assets to an individual retirement account (IRA), or withdraw the money as a lump sum. Make sure you know the benefits, tax implications and penalties involved with each choice. You can learn more by reading “The IRA Rollover: 10 Tips to Making a Sound Decision.”

Keep this in mind: moving your retirement account generally is not an “either/or” decision. It is usually possible to keep some money in your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement account AND transfer some money to an IRA.

When an Investment Professional Chooses You

Sometimes investment professionals actively seek out clients. For instance, they will host free seminars that promise to educate people about investing strategies or managing money in retirement— often with an expensive meal provided at no cost.

It’s Your Money

Don’t feel obligated to entrust any investment professional with all of your assets.

Remember, it’s your money, and your investment professional works for you. Make sure you understand any investment your professional recommends and that you’re comfortable with it. If you don’t understand something, be sure to ask for more information.